§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the most appropriate strategy for reducing contamination episodes in primary agricultural produce and its derivatives would be to prevent infection of production animals rather than to rely upon secondary technical measures such as pasteurisation to render innocuous contamination which should not occur. [HL1790]
§ Lord DonoughueBoth strategies are important. It is therefore one of the ministry's aims to reduce the level of infection of foodborne pathogens at all stages of the food chain, including in farm animals. At present, the necessary knowledge is not available to enable programmes to be introduced for the reduction of many such organisms. The Government are undertaking research with a view to improving knowledge in this area.